Historical Political Events forDecember 8

With millions out of work, others without food, wages depressed, and the country in a major depression, President Hoover, in his annual message to Congress, says he thinks it would be a good idea to raise taxes!

Republics Declare End of Soviet Union: leaders of three of the 15 Soviet Republics, Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin, Ukrainian President Leonid M. Kravchuk and the Belarusian leader Stanislav Shushkevich, released a declaration known as the Belavezha Accords, which declared that the Soviet Union was to be dissolved and succeeded by the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose confederation of former Soviet states.

1993

NAFTA - legislation to implement the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signed by President Clinton, to go into effect at the beginning of 1994.

1998

In "KNOWLES v. IOWA", the Supreme Court ruled police cannot be given blanket authority to search people and their cars without consent after ticketing them for routine traffic violations. [If they ask, "Just say NO"]

Shake off all fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
— Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Letter to his nephew Peter Carr, August 10, 1787